Orthopedic implant kit

ABSTRACT

An implant kit has an adapter having a first end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending from the first and to the second end, wherein the first end is configured for removably receiving and engaging an implant and the second end is configured for removably coupling to a driver shaft of an implant driving tool, and an implant preloaded into the first end of the adapter, the implant having an elongated threaded portion; and a blade portion extending from the elongated threaded portion, and having two serrated edges, wherein the blade portion is received in the first end of the adapter and the elongated threaded portion of the implant is coaxially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the adapter.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/804,228, filed Mar. 14, 2013, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/086,136, filed Apr. 13, 2011, whichclaims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/350,665,which was filed on Jun. 2, 2010, the entire disclosures of which areherein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF DISCLOSURE

The disclosed system and method relate implants. More specifically, thedisclosed system and method relate to installing an implant for treatinghammer toe.

BACKGROUND

Hammer toe is a deformity of the toe that affects the alignment of thebones adjacent to the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint. Hammer toecan cause pain and can lead to difficulty in walking or wearing shoes. Ahammer toe can often result in an open sore or wound on the foot. Insome instances, surgery may be required to correct the deformity byfusing one or both of the PIP and distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints.

The most common corrective surgery includes the placement of a pin orrod in the distal, middle, and proximal phalanxes of the foot to fusethe PIP and DIP joints. The pin or rod is cut at the tip of the toe,externally of the body. A plastic or polymeric ball is placed over theexposed end of the rod, which remains in the foot of the patient untilthe PIP and/or DIP joints are fused in approximately 6 to 12 weeks. Thisconventional treatment has several drawbacks such as preventing thepatient from wearing closed toe shoes while the rod or pin is in place,and the plastic or polymeric ball may snag a bed sheet or other objectdue to it extending from the tip of the toe resulting in substantialpain for the patient.

Another conventional implant includes a pair of threaded members thatare disposed within adjacent bones of a patient's foot. The implants arethen coupled to one another through male-female connection mechanism,which is difficult to install in situ and has a tendency to separate.

Yet another conventional implant has a body including an oval head and apair of feet, which are initially compressed. The implant is formed fromnitinol and is refrigerated until it is ready to be installed. The headand feet of the implant expand due to the rising temperature of theimplant to provide an outward force on the surrounding bone wheninstalled. However, the temperature sensitive material may result in theimplant deploying or expanding prior to being installed, which requiresa new implant to be used.

SUMMARY

An implant kit according to an embodiment comprises an adapter and animplant preloaded in the adapter. The adapter has a first end, a secondend, and a longitudinal axis extending from the first and to the secondend, wherein the first end is configured for receiving an implant andthe second end is configured for coupling to a driver shaft of animplant driving tool. The implant is preloaded into the first end of theadapter and the implant comprises an elongated threaded portion, and ablade portion coaxially extending from the elongated threaded portion,and serrated edges, wherein the blade portion is received in the firstend of the adapter and the elongated threaded portion of the implant iscoaxially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the adapter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features and advantages of the present invention will bemore fully disclosed in, or rendered obvious by the following detaileddescription of the preferred embodiments of the invention, which are tobe considered together with the accompanying drawings wherein likenumbers refer to like parts and further wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of one example of an improved hammer toeimplant;

FIG. 2 is a top side view of the hammer toe implant illustrated in FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the hammer toe implant taken along line3-3 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an end on view of the hammer toe implant taken along line 4-4in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side view of another example of a hammer toe implant;

FIG. 6 is a top side view of the hammer toe implant illustrated in FIG.5;

FIG. 7 is a side view of one example of a driving adapter for use withthe hammer toe implants illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6;

FIG. 8 is an end view of the driving adapter illustrated in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side view of another example of a driving adapter for usewith the hammer toe implants illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6;

FIG. 10 is an end view of the driving adapter illustrated in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an assembly view of a hammer toe implant engaged by a drivingadapter;

FIG. 12A illustrates another example of a driving assembly forinstalling an implant;

FIG. 12B illustrates side view of the driving assembly illustrated inFIG. 12A;

FIG. 13 is an isometric view of an adapter of the driving assemblyillustrated in FIG. 12A;

FIG. 14 is an end view of the adapter illustrated in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the adapter taken along line 21-21in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the adapter taken along line 22-22in FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is a plan view of the driver shaft of the driving assemblyillustrated in FIG. 12A;

FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view of the fin of the driver shaft takenalong line 25-25 in FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a plan view of driving assembly illustrated in FIG. 12Awithout the o-ring;

FIGS. 20A, 20B and 21 illustrate an implant kit comprising a hammer toeimplant preloaded in the adapter shown in FIGS. 13-16;

FIG. 22 illustrates a hammer toe implant being driven into a proximalphalanx;

FIGS. 23A-23D are various views of an embodiment of an implant kitcomprising an adapter configured for coupling to an hammer toe implantusing a spring-biased bifurcated retaining clip;

FIGS. 24A-24D are various views of an embodiment of an implant kitcomprising an adapter that is configured for coupling to an hammer toeimplant using a thread-biased bifurcated retaining clip;

FIGS. 25A-25D are various views of an embodiment of an implant kitcomprising an adapter that is configured for coupling to an hammer toeimplant using a collet;

FIGS. 26A-26D are various views of an implant kit according to anembodiment whose adapter has an implant receiving end configured tocouple to an implant by an O-ring according to the adapter of FIGS. 13,21A and 21B and having a driver shaft coupling end configured forcoupling to the driver shaft by a pair of opposing tabs;

FIGS. 27A-27C are various views of an implant kit according to anembodiment whose adapter has an implant receiving end configured tocouple to an implant by an O-ring according to the adapter of FIGS. 13,21A and 21B and having a driver shaft coupling end configured forcoupling to the driver shaft by an O-ring;

FIGS. 28A-28C are various views of an implant kit according to anembodiment whose adapter has an implant receiving end configured tocouple to an implant by an O-ring according to the adapter of FIGS. 13,21A and 21B and having a driver shaft coupling end configured forcoupling to the driver shaft by an off-set clip;

FIGS. 29A-29E are various views of an implant kit according to anembodiment whose adapter has an implant receiving end configured tocouple to an implant by an O-ring according to the adapter of FIGS. 13,21A and 21B and having a driver shaft coupling end configured forcoupling to the driver shaft by a C-clip;

FIG. 30 shows an embodiment of the implant kit comprising an adapterhaving an implant-receiving end configured according to the adapter ofFIG. 24A and having a driver shaft coupling end configured for couplingto the driver shaft by a pair of opposing tabs as shown in FIGS. 26A and26B;

FIGS. 31A-31B are various views of an embodiment of the implant kitcomprising an adapter having an implant receiving end configuredaccording to the adapter of FIG. 24A and having a driver shaft couplingend configured for coupling to the driver shaft by an O-ring provided onthe driver shaft;

FIG. 32 shows an embodiment of the implant kit comprising an adapterhaving an implant receiving end configured according to the adapter ofFIG. 24A and having a driver shaft coupling end configured for couplingto the driver shaft by an off-set clip shown in the implant kit of FIGS.28A-28C;

FIG. 33 shows an embodiment of the implant kit comprising an adapterhaving an implant receiving end configured according to the adapter ofFIG. 24A and having a driver shaft coupling end configured for couplingto the driver shaft by a C-clip shown in FIGS. 29A-29E;

FIG. 34 shows an embodiment of the implant kit comprising an adapterhaving an implant receiving end configured according to the adapter ofFIG. 23A and having a driver shaft coupling end configured for couplingto the driver shaft by a pair of opposing tabs shown in FIGS. 26A, 26B;

FIGS. 35A-35B show an embodiment of the implant kit comprising anadapter having an implant receiving end configured according to theadapter of FIG. 23A and having a driver shaft coupling end configuredfor coupling to the driver shaft by an O-ring provided on the drivershaft;

FIG. 36 shows an embodiment of the implant kit comprising an adapterhaving an implant receiving end configured according to the adapter ofFIG. 23A and having a driver shaft coupling end configured for couplingto the driver shaft by an off-set clip shown in the implant kit of FIGS.28A-28C;

FIG. 37 shows an embodiment of the implant kit comprising an adapterhaving an implant receiving end configured according to the adapter ofFIG. 23A and having a driver shaft coupling end configured for couplingto the driver shaft by the C-clip shown in FIGS. 29A-29E;

FIG. 38 shows an embodiment of the implant kit comprising an adapterhaving an implant receiving end configured according to the adapter ofFIG. 25A and having a driver shaft coupling end configured for couplingto the driver shaft by a pair of opposing tabs shown in FIGS. 26A, 26B.

FIGS. 39A-39B are various views of an embodiment of the implant kitcomprising an adapter having an implant receiving end configuredaccording to the adapter of FIG. 25A and having a driver shaft couplingend configured for coupling to the driver shaft by an O-ring provided onthe driver shaft;

FIG. 40 shows an embodiment of the implant kit comprising an adapterhaving an implant receiving end configured according to the adapter ofFIG. 25A and having a driver shaft coupling end configured for couplingto the driver shaft by an off-set clip shown in FIGS. 28A-28C.

FIG. 41 shows an embodiment of the implant kit comprising an adapterhaving an implant receiving end configured according to the adapter ofFIG. 25A and having a driver shaft coupling end configured for couplingto the driver shaft by a C-clip shown in FIGS. 29A-29E.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This description of preferred embodiments is intended to be read inconnection with the accompanying drawings, which are to be consideredpart of the entire written description. The drawing figures are notnecessarily to scale and certain features of the invention may be shownexaggerated in scale or in somewhat schematic form in the interest ofclarity and conciseness. In the description, relative terms such as“horizontal,” “vertical,” “up,” “down,” “top,” and “bottom” as well asderivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,”etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then describedor as shown in the drawing figure under discussion. These relative termsare for convenience of description and normally are not intended torequire a particular orientation. Terms including “inwardly” versus“outwardly,” “longitudinal” versus “lateral,” and the like are to beinterpreted relative to one another or relative to an axis ofelongation, or an axis or center of rotation, as appropriate. Termsconcerning attachments, coupling, and the like, such as “connected” and“interconnected,” refer to a relationship wherein structures are securedor attached to one another either directly or indirectly throughintervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments orrelationships, unless expressly described otherwise. The term“operatively connected” is such an attachment, coupling or connectionthat allows the pertinent structures to operate as intended by virtue ofthat relationship.

FIG. 1 illustrates one example of an improved implant 100 for treatinghammer toe. As shown in FIG. 1, the hammer toe implant 100 includes anelongate threaded portion 102 and a blade portion 104, which areconnected together at an engagement portion 106. Implant 100 may have asubstantially linear geometry having an overall length of approximately19 mm (approximately 0.75 inches). The blade portion 104 extendslongitudinally in alignment with the threaded portion 102 as shown inFIGS. 2 and 3.

In some embodiments, such as the implant 100A illustrated in FIGS. 5 and6, the blade portion 104A may be disposed at angle θ with respect to thelongitudinal axis L defined by the threaded portion 102. The angle θ maybe between zero and 45 degrees, and more particularly betweenapproximately five and fifteen degrees, although one skilled in the artwill understand that the implant 100 may have other dimensions and beprovided in different sizes. For example, the implant 100 may beprovided in lengths of 16 mm and 22 mm, to name a few potential lengths.

The threaded portion 102 may include a plurality of threads 108 disposedalong its entire length, which may be approximately 13 mm (approximately0.5 inches). The tip 110 of the threaded portion 102 may be pointed tofacilitate the advancement of the threads 108 into bone. The threads 108may have a maximum outer diameter of approximately 2 mm (approximately0.08 inches), although one skilled in the art will understand that thethreaded portion 102 may have other dimensions and be configured to bethreaded into a phalanx bone of a person. For example, threads may havean outer diameter of approximately 2.4 mm and 1.6 mm, to name a fewpotential possibilities.

The blade portion 104 includes a plurality of teeth 112 along itsserrated edges 114, 116. The blade portion 104 may have a width that isgreater than its thickness as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4. For example,the blade portion 104 may have a width of approximately 0.4 centimeters(approximately 0.16 inches) and a thickness of approximately 0.1centimeters (approximately 0.04 inches) each of which taper to a point118. The blade portion 104 may have a substantially rectangularcross-sectional area as illustrated in FIG. 4, although one skilled inthe art will understand that the blade portion 104 may have othercross-sectional geometries.

The engagement portion 106 may include a pair of protrusions 120extending from opposite sides of the implant 100 and having roundedouter edges 122. The sides 124 of the protrusions 120 may besubstantially parallel with each other as shown in FIG. 4.

The implant 100 can be installed using a driving adapter 200 such as theone illustrated in FIGS. 7-10. The driving adapter 200 has an elongateadapter body 202 having a proximal end 204 and a distal end 206. Theadapter body 202 of the driving adapter 200 may have a circularcross-sectional geometry, although one skilled in the art wouldunderstand that the adapter body 202 may have other cross-sectionalgeometries including, but not limited to, a triangular, a rectangular, apentagonal, and a hexagonal cross-sectional geometries to name a few.

The proximal end 204 may be substantially solid and have a rounded tip208. The distal end 206 may define a slot 210 sized and configured toreceive the blade portion 104 of the implant 100 therein. The slot 210may have a rectangular cross-sectional geometry and have a depth that issufficient to receive the entire blade portion 104 of the implant 100such that distal edges 212 of slot 210 contact protrusions 120 ofengagement portion 106. However, one skilled in the art will understandthat slot 210 may have other cross-sectional geometries and dimensions.Slot 210 may extend through side walls 214 of the adapter body 202 asshown in FIGS. 7 and 8, or side walls 214 may completely enclose slot210 as shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

If the driving adapter 200 is to be used with an implant having asubstantially linear lengthwise geometry such as the implant 100illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, then the slot 210 may extend in a directionthat is substantially parallel to an axis defined by the adapter body202 of the driving adapter 200. If the driving adapter 200 is to be usedwith an implant having a blade portion 104A that extends or oriented atan angle θ with respect to the longitudinal axis A of the threadedportion 102 such as in the implant 100A illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6,then the slot 210 may extend from the distal edges 212 at thecorresponding angle θ with respect to an axis defined by the length ofthe adapter body 202 such that elongate threaded portion 102 of implant100A is linearly aligned with the adapter body 202 of the drivingadapter 200 when the implant 100A is inserted into the driving adapter200 as shown in FIG. 11. For example, if the extension angle θ of theblade portion 104A of the implant 100A is ten degree with respect to thelongitudinal axis defined by the elongate threaded portion 102, then theslot 210 of the driving adapter 200 would be oriented at ten degreesangle with respect to the longitudinal axis defined by the adapter body202 such that the threaded portion 102 of the implant 100A and theadapter body 202 of the driving adapter 200 are substantially coaxiallyaligned.

FIGS. 12A-19 illustrate an example of an implant adapter 502 coupled toa driver shaft 516 of a driver tool 500 for installing a hammer toeimplant into bone. As shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the driver tool 500includes a handle 534 that is over-molded or otherwise coupled to thedriver shaft 516. The implant adapter 502 includes an adapter body 504with a substantially rectangular side profile comprising side walls506-1, 506-2, 506-3, and 506-4 (collectively referred to as “side walls506”) and a pair of end walls 508-1, 508-2 (collectively referred to as“end walls 508”) having a substantially square geometry as best seen inFIGS. 13-16.

As shown in FIG. 13, the adapter body 504 is provided with a recess or agroove 510 extending circumferentially along the side walls 506 on theadapter. The groove 510 is dimensioned such that an elastic O-ring 544(see FIGS. 17, 18 and 22) can be received therein. Additionally, thegroove 510 is located along the side walls 506 at a distance from theend walls 508 that aligns the groove 510 with a valley portion 126between the teeth-like serrations 112 on the blade portion 104.

The end wall 508-1 defines a slot 512 having a geometry that complementsthe cross-sectional geometry of the blade portion 104, 104A of theimplant 100, 100A. For example, for the implant 100 having a straightblade portion 104 as illustrated in FIG. 2, the aperture 512 may extendapproximately parallel to the lengthwise direction of side walls 506.For the blade portion 104A of implant 100A that is angled as illustratedin FIG. 6, the aperture 512 may extend from wall 508-1 at the angle θrelative to the longitudinal axis of the implant adapter 502 or theplane defined by one of the side walls 506-2 or 506-4 as will beunderstood by one skilled in the art. In some embodiments, the aperture512 has a depth that is greater than or equal to a length of the bladeportion 104, 104A such that the blade portion 104, 104A may be receivedwithin the adapter body 504 and the engagement portion 106 abuts the endwall 508-1. Similarly, the end wall 508-2 defines a bore 514 that issized and configured to receive an adapter-engaging end, of the elongatedriver shaft 516 therein. FIG. 16 shows the bore 514 provided in thedriver shaft receiving end of the implant adapter 502.

As best seen in FIGS. 15-19, the driver shaft 516 includes a fin 518disposed at a first end 520. The fin 518 disposed at end 520 of thedriver shaft 516 has a rectangular shape and is sized and configured tobe received within the bore 514 of adapter 502. The fin 518 defines aslot 522, which is sized and configured to receive a pin (not shown) forcross-pinning driver shaft 516 to adapter 502. In some embodiments, theend 520 may have other cross-sectional geometries including, but notlimited to, triangular, square, and pentagonal, to name a fewpossibilities, that are configured to be received within the bore 514.The adapter 502 can be configured in a variety of different manner to beremovably coupled to the driver shaft 516 as described below.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the implant can bepreloaded into an adapter and provided as an implant kit. Variousembodiments of such an implant kit will be described below.

FIG. 20A shows an implant kit 1000 in which the blade portion 104 of theimplant 100 is inserted into the aperture 512 of the adapter 502. Whenthe implant 100 is received in the adapter 502, the elongated threadedportion 102 of the implant 100 extends coaxially in alignment with thelongitudinal axis of the adapter.

FIG. 20B shows an implant kit 1000 in which the angled blade portion104A of the implant 100A inserted into the aperture 512A of the adapter502A. In this embodiment, the aperture 512A is angled correspondingly toreceive the angled blade portion 104A of the implant 100A such that whenthe implant 100A is received in the adapter 502A, the elongated threadedportion 102 of the implant 100A extends coaxially in alignment with thelongitudinal axis of the adapter.

FIG. 21 is a view of the implant kit 1000 in which the implant 100, 100Ais preloaded into the adapter 502. FIG. 21 is viewed from within theplane of FIGS. 20A and 20B so that the view shows the full width of theblade portion 104, 104A. In this view of FIG. 21, with the blade portion104, 104A fully inserted into the adapter 502, 502A, an elastic O-ring544 (also shown in FIGS. 12A, 12B and 22) placed in the groove 510retains the implant 100, 100A in the adapter 502, 502A by preventing theimplant from sliding out of the adapter. The cross-sections of theO-ring is shown in FIG. 21. The groove 510 is cut into the adapter witha sufficient depth so that when the O-ring 544 is placed therein theO-ring is positioned within the valley 126 between two adjacent teeth112 on either side of the blade portion 104, 104A, as shown in FIG. 21.Because the O-ring 544 is elastic, one can push the blade portion 104,104A of the implant into the adapter with sufficient force for one ormore of the teeth 112 to push past the O-ring 544 when assembling theimplant kit 1000. Once the implant kit 1000 is assembled, however, theO-ring 544 secures and retains the implant 100, 100A in the adapter 502until one intentionally pulls off the adapter 502 after the implant isdriven into a bone.

In use, the surgeon would attach the implant kit 1000 to the driver tool500 to manually drive the threaded portion 102 of the implant 100, 100Ainto the resected surface of proximal phalanx 302 as illustrated in FIG.22. The implant 100, 100A is driven into the proximal phalanx 302 untilengagement portion 106 abuts the proximal phalanx 302. The implant 100,100A is then decoupled from the adapter 502 by axially pulling theadapter 502 away from the implant 100, 100A with sufficient force topush the O-ring 544 outward and separate the adapter 502 from theimplant 100, 100A.

FIGS. 23A-23C show various views of an implant kit 1010 according toanother embodiment. The implant kit 1010 comprises an adapter 600 thatis configured at a first end for receiving a hammer toe implant 100 andremovably retaining the implant therein using a spring-biased bifurcatedretaining clip 650. The adapter 600 has an adapter body 602substantially forming the first end configured for receiving the implant100. The bifurcated retaining clip 650 is provided within a slot 612extending into the adapter body 602 from the slot opening 612A. Thebifurcated retaining clip 650 is spring-biased to be normally in a fullyretracted position shown in FIG. 23A. In the fully retracted position,the bifurcated retaining clip 650 retains the implant 100 by capturingthe blade portion 104 between the bifurcated arms. In FIG. 23A, leadingends 650AA, 650BB of the bifurcated retaining clip 650 are shownprotruding through the slot opening 612A. The implant 100 is releasedfrom the implant kit 1010 by extending the bifurcated retaining clip 650out in the direction of the arrow A shown in FIG. 23A.

FIG. 23B shows a detailed view of the structure of the bifurcatedretaining clip 650. The bifurcated retaining clip 650 comprises animplant-engaging portion 657 and a base portion 660. The implantengaging portion 657 is provided with bifurcated arms 650A and 650B thatare configured for holding the blade portion 104 of the implant 100between the bifurcated arms 650A and 650B at their leading ends 650AAand 650BB.

The bifurcated arms 650A, 650B are dimensioned to have substantially thesame thickness t as the blade portion 104 of the implant 100. Thatallows the bifurcated arms 650A, 650B to fit within the slot 612 of theadapter 602 with the blade portion 104 of the implant 100 held betweenthe bifurcated arms 650A, 650B. The interior surface 652 of thebifurcated arms 650A, 650B at their leading ends 650AA and 650BB can becontoured with protrusions 652A and 652B that are configured forengaging the blade portion 104. In one preferred embodiment, theprotrusions 652A, 652B have contours that match the contours of thevalley 126 between two teeth 112 of the blade portion 104.

As shown in FIGS. 23B and 23C, the bifurcated arms 650A and 650B arejoined at the base end 651. The base portion 660 comprises a stemportion 662 that extends from the base end 651 generally along thelongitudinal axis L. The stem portion 662 is configured with aspring-retainer portion 664. As will be discussed further below, thestem portion 662 can be configured to couple to the driver shaft of thedriver tool in one of a variety of ways.

FIG. 23C shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the implant kit1010 taken through a plane that is parallel to the blade portion 104.The bifurcated retaining clip 650 is shown in its normal retractedposition within the slot 612 of the adapter body 602 with the bladeportion 104 of the implant 100 captured and retained in between thebifurcated arms.

The respective outer sides 653A, 653B of the two bifurcated arms 652A,652B are slanted at an angle flaring out away from the longitudinal axisL of the implant kit so that the overall width of the bifurcatedretaining clip 650 between the outer sides 653A, 653B increase towardsthe leading ends 650AA, 650BB of the bifurcated arms. The slanted outersides 653A, 653B enable the bifurcated arms 652A, 652B to close on theblade portion 104 as a compressible coil spring 667 retracts thebifurcated retaining clip 650 into the slot 612. As the bifurcated armsare retracted, the outer sides 653A, 653B contact the surfaces of theslot 612 and as the bifurcated arms continue to retract inward, theslanted outer sides 653A, 653B cause the bifurcated arms to be squeezedand close in and grip the blade portion. Thus the implant 100 isretained in the adapter 600 and cannot be decoupled from the adapteruntil the bifurcated retaining clip 650 is extended out.

At the end opposite from the slot opening 612A, the adapter body 602 isconfigured with a cylindrical cavity 615. The base portion 660 of thebifurcated retaining clip is accommodated in the cylindrical cavity 615.Between the cylindrical cavity 615 and the slot 612 is provided an endwall 613. The end wall has a hole 613 a through which the stem portion662 extends.

The compressible coil spring 667 is captured between the end wall 613and the spring-retainer portion 664. The coil spring 667 is normally atits fully expanded configuration and applies bias against the end wall613 and the spring-retainer portion 664. This spring bias pushes againstthe spring-retainer portion 664 in the direction of the arrow R withrespect to the end wall 613 of the adapter body 602. Because the endwall 613 acts as a stop for the bifurcated arms 652A, 653B, the bias ofthe coil spring 667 keeps the bifurcated retaining clip 650 in its fullyretracted position shown in FIG. 23C. By pushing the base portion 660 inthe direction represented by the arrow E towards the slot opening 612A,the coil spring 667 is compressed and the bifurcated arms 650A and 650Bwill extend out of the slot 612 thus releasing its grip on the implant100 so that the adapter 650 can be decoupled from the implant 100. FIG.23D shows the implant kit 1010 in the configuration where the bifurcatedretaining clip 650 is in the extended position.

The end of the adapter body 602 with the cylindrical cavity 615 isprovided with a retaining nut 670 for retaining the base portion 660 ofthe bifurcated retaining clip 650 inside the adapter body 602. Theretaining nut 670 and the adapter body 602 can be configured tothreadably engage each other as shown in FIG. 23C. Screw threads 605 onthe adapter body and screw threads 675 on the retaining nut 670 enablethis. The retaining nut 670 is provided with a hole 673 foraccommodating the stem portion 662 of the bifurcated retaining clip.

FIGS. 24A-24D show various views of an implant kit 1020 that utilizes athread-biased bifurcated retaining clip 1650 according to anotherembodiment. The implant kit 1020 comprises an adapter 1600 that isconfigured at a first end for receiving a hammer toe implant 100 andremovably retaining the implant therein using the thread-biasedbifurcated retaining clip 1650. The adapter 1600 has an adapter body1602 substantially forming the first end configured for receiving theimplant 100.

The bifurcated retaining clip 1650 is provided within a slot 1612extending into the adapter body 1602 from the slot opening 1612A. Thebifurcated retaining clip 1650 is thread-biased to be normally in afully retracted position shown in FIG. 24A. In the fully retractedposition, the bifurcated retaining clip 1650 retains the adapter 100 bycapturing the blade portion 104 of the adapter between the bifurcatedarms 1650A, 1650B. The term “thread-biased” is used herein to refer tothe fact that in this embodiment, the bifurcated retaining clip 1650 iskept in its retracted position by the operation of screw threads 1663provided on a stem portion 1662 of the retaining clip 1650.

In FIG. 24A, leading ends 1650AA, 1650BB of the bifurcated retainingclip 1650 are shown protruding through the slot opening 1612A. Theimplant 100 is released from the implant kit 1020 by extending thebifurcated retaining clip 1650 out in the direction of the arrow A shownin FIG. 24A.

FIG. 24B shows a detailed view of the structure of the bifurcatedretaining clip 1650. The bifurcated retaining clip 1650 comprises animplant-engaging portion 1657 and a base portion 1660. The implantengaging portion 1657 is provided with bifurcated arms 1650A and 1650Bthat are configured for holding the blade portion 104 of the implant 100between the bifurcated arms 1650A and 1650B at their leading ends 1650AAand 1650BB.

The bifurcated arms 1650A, 1650B are dimensioned to have substantiallythe same thickness t as the blade portion 104 of the implant 100. Thatallows the bifurcated arms 1650A, 1650B to fit within the slot 1612 ofthe adapter 1602 with the blade portion 104 of the implant 100 heldbetween the bifurcated arms 1650A, 1650B. The interior surface 1652 ofthe bifurcated arms 1650A, 1650B at their leading ends 1650AA and 1650BBcan be contoured with protrusions 1652A and 1652B that are configuredfor engaging the blade portion 104. In one preferred embodiment, theprotrusions 1652A, 1652B have contours that match the contours of thevalley 126 between two teeth 112 of the blade portion 104.

As shown in FIGS. 24B through 24D, the bifurcated arms 1650A and 1650Bare joined at the base end 1651. The base portion 1660 comprises a stemportion 1662 that extends from the base end 1651 generally along thelongitudinal axis L. The stem portion 1662 is configured with a screwthreaded portion 1663. As will be discussed further below, the stemportion 1662 can be configured to couple to the driver shaft of thedriver tool in one of a variety of ways.

FIG. 24C shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the implant kit1020 taken through a plane that is parallel to the blade portion 104 andFIG. 24D shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the implant kit1020 taken through a plane that is orthogonal to the blade portion 104.The bifurcated retaining clip 1650 is shown in its normal retractedposition within the slot 1612 of the adapter body 1602 with the bladeportion 104 of the implant 100 captured and retained in between thebifurcated arms.

The respective outer sides 1653A, 1653B of the two bifurcated arms1652A, 1652B are slanted at an angle flaring out away from thelongitudinal axis L of the implant kit so that the overall width of thebifurcated retaining clip 1650 between the outer sides 1653A, 1653Bincrease towards the leading ends 1650AA, 1650BB of the bifurcated arms.The bifurcated arms 1650A, 1650B operate in a similar manner to thebifurcated arms 650A, 650B of the implant kit 1010 with respect tocapturing and retaining the implant 100. When the bifurcated retainingclip 1650 is in fully retracted position as shown in FIGS. 24A-24D, thebifurcated arms squeeze close and grip the blade portion 104 and retainthe implant 100 in the adapter 1600 and cannot be decoupled from theadapter until the bifurcated retaining clip 1650 is extended out.

At the end opposite from the slot opening 1612A, the adapter body 1602is configured with a cylindrical cavity 1615 and is provided with aretaining nut 1670. The retaining nut 1670 has a threaded longitudinalbore 1671 for threadably receiving the screw threaded portion 1663 ofthe stem portion 1662 of the bifurcated retaining clip. The stem portion1662 extends through the cylindrical cavity 1615 and the threadedportion 1663 extends through the threaded bore 1671 of the retaining nut1670.

The retaining nut 1670 is coupled to the adapter body 1602 in a mannerthat allows the retaining nut 1670 to be rotatable about thelongitudinal axis L of the adapter 1600. The particular structures forthe rotatable coupling between the retaining nut 1670 and the adapterbody 1602 can be one of a variety of known structures. By turning theretaining nut 1670 in one direction, the bifurcated retaining clip 1650can be moved in the direction R shown in FIG. 24C and be retracted intothe adapter body 1602 for retaining the implant 100. Conversely, byturning the retaining nut 1670 in the opposite direction, the bifurcatedretaining clip 1650 can be moved in the direction E shown in FIG. 24Cand be extended outward in order to release the implant 100. When thebifurcated retaining clip 1650 is in extended position, it looks similarto the extended configuration of the implant kit 1010 shown in FIG. 23D.

FIGS. 25A-25D are various views of an embodiment of an implant kit 1030comprising an adapter 2600 configured for coupling to a hammer toeimplant 100 using a thread-biased collet 2650. The adapter 2600comprises a sleeve 2602 and the collet 2650. The sleeve 2602 hasopenings at each end and a bore 2615 longitudinally extending betweenthe two openings. The collet 2650 is received in the bore 2615. Thesleeve 2602 has a first end 2603 that forms one of the openings.

Referring to FIG. 25B, the collet 2650 is generally cylindrical in shapeand comprises an implant receiving portion 2657 and a threaded portion2660. The threaded portion 2660 is provided with screw threads 2663. Theimplant receiving portion 2657 has an implant-receiving opening 2612 forreceiving the blade portion 104 of the implant 100. Theimplant-receiving opening 2612 is defined by a plurality of colletsegments 2651 which are defined by slots 2652 extending from theimplant-receiving end towards the threaded portion 2660. This example ofa collet has four collet segments 2651. The implant receiving portion2657 is flared in its outer circumference so that the diameter of thereceiving portion 2657 increases towards the implant-receiving end ofthe collet. FIG. 25C shows the collet 2650 with the implant 100 receivedin the slot 2652.

Referring to FIG. 25D, the bore 2615 has a screw threaded portion 2607and a main portion 2605. The threaded portion 2607 is configured tothreadably engage the threads 2663 of the collet 2650. The main portion2605 has a sufficiently large diameter to accommodate a substantialportion of the implant receiving portion 2657 of the collet 2650 withoutimposing any mechanical interference. The main portion 2605 terminatesat the first end 2603 where the opening formed therein has a diametersmaller than the maximum diameter of the flared implant receivingportion 2657. This configuration allows the collet segments 2651 to beconstricted by the first end 2603 when the collet 2650 is retracted intothe sleeve 2602 in the direction R shown in FIG. 25D and close in on theblade portion 104 of the implant 100, thus, retaining the implant.Conversely, the implant 100 can be released from the adapter 2600 byextending the collet 2650 outward from the sleeve 2602 in the directionE shown in FIG. 25D. The retraction and extension of the collet 2650 isenabled by turning the sleeve 2602 about the longitudinal axis Lrelative to the collet 2650 thus engaging the screw threads 2607 and2663.

Referring to FIGS. 26A through 41C, various embodiments for removablycoupling the implant kits disclosed above to a driver shaft 516 of adriver tool 500 will be described. FIGS. 26A-26D are various views of anembodiment of an adapter such as the adapter 502 of FIGS. 20A-21 havinga driver shaft coupling end configured for coupling to theadapter-engaging end 517 a, 517 b of the driver shaft. The driver shaftcoupling end of the adapter 502 is provided with the longitudinallyextending bore 514, configured for receiving the adapter-engaging end517 a, 517 b, and a pair of opposing tabs 541, 542 extendinglongitudinally in the direction away from the implant engaging end. FIG.26A shows a driver shaft 516 whose adapter-engaging end 517 a isconfigured with screw threads. In this embodiment, the driver-engagingend of the adapter 502 is configured to threadably couple to theadapter-engaging end 517 a of the driver shaft 502 and the tabs 541, 542provide additional locking mechanism. FIG. 26B shows a driver shaft 516whose adapter-engaging end 517 b is configured with a magnetic tip. Inthis embodiment, the driver-engaging end of the adapter 502 isconfigured to magnetically couple to the adapter-engaging end 517 b andthe tabs 541, 542 provide additional locking mechanism. The adapter 502would then be provided with a magnet or a piece of magnetic material 503for magnetically coupling to the adapter-engaging end 517 b.

FIGS. 26C and 26D are cross-sectional views of the adapter 502 showingthe driver-engaging end. FIG. 26C shows the profile of the tabs 541 and542 and the bore 514 for receiving the adapter-engaging end 517 of thedriver shaft. If the adapter 502 is intended for use with the drivershaft 516 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 26A, the bore 514 is tappedwith screw thread for threadably engaging the threaded adapter-engagingend 517 a. If the adapter 502 is intended for use with the driver shaft516 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 26B, the bore 514 is provided with amagnet 530 for engaging the magnetized tip of the adapter-engaging end517 b.

The tabs 541, 542 and the adapter-engaging end 517 a, 517 b areconfigured for further mechanical coupling. In the illustrated example,the tabs 541, 542 are provided with bumps 550 and the adapter-engagingend 517 a, 517 b of the driver shaft is provided with correspondingcutouts 560 for mating with the bumps 550.

Shown in FIGS. 27A-27C are various views of an implant kit 1040comprising an adapter 1502 and an implant 100 according to anotherembodiment. The implant 100 is removably coupled to the adapter 1502 atthe adapter's implant-receiving end 1503 by a first O-ring 544 in thesame manner as with the adapter 502 shown in FIGS. 13, 20A, 20B and 21.The adapter 1502 has a circumferential groove 1510, in which the firstO-ring 544 is provided, in the outer surface of the adapter in proximityto the implant-receiving end 1503. As with the adapter embodiment 502,the adapter 1502 comprises a slot provided in the implant-receiving end1503 that receives the blade portion 104 of the implant 100. The adapter1502 also has a driver shaft coupling end 1504 configured for removablycoupling to the driver shaft 516 by a second O-ring 546. The drivershaft coupling end 1504 is provided with a longitudinally extending bore1514 for receiving the adapter-engaging end 1517 of the driver shaft516. The driver shaft coupling end 1504 is also provided with a secondcircumferential groove 1512 in which the second O-ring 546 is disposed.The adapter-engaging end 1517 has a cross-section that is larger thanthe inner diameter of the second O-ring 546 but has a turned downsection 1518 that has a reduced cross-section for accommodating thesecond O-ring 546 when the adapter-engaging end 1517 is inserted intothe bore 1514 as shown in FIG. 27C. When the adapter-engaging end 1517is inserted into the bore 1514, the turned down section 1518 and thesecond circumferential groove 1512 align so that the second O-ring 546rests in the turned down section 1518. The second O-ring 546 thusprovides an interference with the adapter-engaging end 1517 to preventthe adapter 1502 and the driver shaft 516 from decoupling withoutexerting some force.

FIGS. 28A-28C are various views of an adapter 2502 that can be used inan implant kit 1050 according to another embodiment of the presentdisclosure. The adapter 2502 has an implant receiving end 2503configured to couple to an implant 100 by an O-ring 544 according to theadapter of FIGS. 13, 21A and 21B and a driver shaft coupling end 2504configured for coupling to the driver shaft 516 by an off-set clip 2515.The driver shaft coupling end 2504 has a longitudinally extending bore2514 for receiving an adapter-engaging end 2517 of the driver shaft 516.The off-set clip 2515 is cantilevered to the adapter having a cantileverportion 2515 a connected to the adapter body and a locking portion 2515b extending orthogonal to the cantilever portion 2515 a. The lockingportion 2515 b is provided with a through hole 2516 for theadapter-engaging end 2517 of the driver shaft 516. The through hole 2516and the bore 2514 are off-set to enable the locking function. Theadapter-engaging end 2517 is provided with a groove or a cutout 2518 onone side for removably engaging the off-set clip 2515. To insert theadapter-engaging end 2517 into the adapter, the user pushes the off-setclip 2515 in the direction shown by the arrow P in FIG. 28C, which is alongitudinal cross-sectional view of the adapter 2502. That will deflectthe cantilever portion 2515 a in the direction P and bring the throughhole 2516 in linear alignment with the bore 2514 so that theadapter-engaging end 2517 can be inserted through the through hole 2516and the bore 2514. Once the adapter-engaging end 2517 is fully inserted,the off-set clip 2515 is released to its normal off-set position asshown in FIG. 28C. The off-set position of the locking portion 2515 bkeeps the locking portion 2515 b seated within the cutout 2518 keepingthe driver shaft 516 coupled to the adapter 2502. The off-set clip canbe configured so that in the configuration shown in FIG. 28C, thelocking portion 2515 b maintains a force against the cutout 2518 in thedirection opposite the arrow P. To remove the adaper 2502 from theadapter-engaging end 2517, the off-set clip 2515 is pushed in thedirection of the arrow P shown in FIG. 28C bringing the through hole2516 and the bore 2514 into longitudinal alignment and thus removing theinterference between the locking portion 2515 b and the cutout 2518. Inanother embodiment, the adapter-engaging end 2517 may simply be straightwithout the cutout 2518 structure. In that embodiment, the urging of thelocking portion 2515 b against the straight adapter-engaging end 2517 inthe direction opposite the arrow P will provide sufficient frictionalinterference to keep the driver shaft 516 and the adapter 2502 coupled.

FIGS. 29A-29E are various views of the driver shaft coupling end 3504 ofan adapter 3502 that is configured for removably coupling to the implant100 to form an implant kit according to another embodiment. Theimplant-receiving end of the adapter 3502 is configured to couple to theimplant by an O-ring 544 according to the adapter of FIGS. 13, 21A and21B. The driver shaft coupling end 3504 is configured to removablycouple to the adapter-engaging end 3517 of the driver shaft 516 by aC-clip 3550. The C-clip 3550 is generally shaped like a letter C and hastwo prongs 3550 a and 3550 b joined at one end and open at the oppositeend. The driver shaft coupling end 3504 of the adapter 3502 is providedwith a bore 3514 for receiving the adapter-engaging end 3517. The drivershaft coupling end 3504 is further configured with a pair of slots 3512for receiving the C-clip 3550 and oriented orthogonal to thelongitudinal axis of the adapter 3502. FIG. 29B is an end view of theadapter assembly viewed from the driver shaft coupling end 3504 showingthe C-clip 3550 clipped on to the adapter 3502 by sliding the two prongs3550 a, 3550 b into the pair of slots 3512. The pair of slots 3512 arecut into the adapter 3502 sufficiently deep to overlap with the bore3514 so that when the C-clip 3550 is clipped on to the adapter 3502,interference tabs 3551 on each of the two prongs 3550 a, 3550 b protrudeinto the bore 3514 as shown in FIG. 29B. When the adapter-engaging end3517 of the driver shaft 516 is inserted into the bore 3514 and lockedwith the C-clip 3550 as shown in the longitudinal cross-sectional viewof FIG. 29E, the interference tabs 3551 reside in the correspondingslots 3518 provided in the adapter-engaging end 3517 and prevent theadapter 3502 and the driver shaft 516 from decoupling. In thisembodiment, the interference tabs 3551 are oriented substantiallyparallel to one another. In one preferred embodiment, the interferencetabs 3551 can be oriented in a slant so that the interference tabs 3551are tapered towards the open end of the C-clip 3550. The taperedinterference tabs 3551 makes is easier to insert the C-clip 3550 overthe adapter-engaging end 3517.

According to another embodiment, the driver shaft coupling ends of theimplant kit 1010 (shown in FIG. 23A), implant kit 1020 (shown in FIG.24A) can be configured and adapted to removably couple to theadapter-engaging end of the driver shaft 516 by adopting one of thestructural configurations described herein. For example, FIG. 30 showsan embodiment where the implant kit 1020 whose driver shaft coupling end1662 a is configured with the pair of opposing tabs 541, 542 as shown inFIGS. 26A-26D and the adapter-engaging end of the driver shaft 516 isconfigured to have the structures of 517 a or 517 b as shown in FIGS.26A-26D.

According to another embodiment, FIGS. 31A and 31B show the implant kit1020 (shown in FIG. 24A) whose driver shaft coupling end 1662 b isconfigured to couple to the driver shaft 516 by an O-ring similar to thestructure shown in connection with the implant kit 1040 (shown in FIG.27A). In this embodiment, however, the structures of theadapter-engaging end 1517 a of the driver shaft 516 and the driver shaftcoupling end 1662 b of the adapter 1600 are switched compared to thestructures shown in FIG. 27A. Here, the driver shaft coupling end 1662 bis configured for coupling to the driver shaft 516 by an O-ring 546 athat is provided on the driver shaft rather than the driver shaftcoupling end 1662 b of the adapter's stem portion 1662. Theadapter-engaging end 1517 a of the driver shaft 516 is cylindrical andis provided with a bore 1514 a for receiving the driver shaft couplingend 1662 b. The adapter-engaging end 1517 a is provided with acircumferential groove 1519 for accommodating the O-ring 546 a. Thedriver shaft coupling end 1662 b is configured to be a prism-likestructure having a square cross-section or some other polygoncross-section and the bore 1514 a has a corresponding shape forreceiving the polygon shape. This configuration allows torsional forcefrom the driver shaft 516 to be transferred to the driver shaft couplingend 1662 b.

Because the adapter-engaging end 1517 a is a cylinder, the corners ofthe polygon shaped driver shaft coupling end 1662 b are closer to theouter surface of the adapter-engaging end 1517 a and the corners of thepolygon shaped driver shaft coupling end 1662 b intersect the bottom ofthe circumferential groove 1519. This creates openings at the bottom ofthe groove 1519 that expose the driver shaft coupling end 1662 b whenthe driver shaft coupling end 1662 b is inserted into the bore 1514 a.The driver shaft coupling end 1662 b is provided with a groove 1668 thataligns with the circumferential groove 1519 so that the groove 1668 isexposed through the openings at the bottom of the groove 1519 and theO-ring 546 a provided in the circumferential groove 1519 of theadapter-engaging end 1517 a of the driver shaft retains the driver shaftcoupling end 1662 b in place.

FIG. 32 shows another embodiment of the implant kit 1020 as shown inFIG. 24A that is removably coupled to the driver shaft 516. In thisembodiment, the adapter 1600 has an implant receiving end structure asshown in FIG. 24A and a driver shaft coupling end 1662 c that isconfigured with the off-set clip structure 2515 for coupling to theadapter-engaging end 2517 of the driver shaft 516. The off-set clipstructure 2515 is as used in the implant kit 1050 as shown in FIGS.28A-28C.

FIG. 33 shows another embodiment of the implant kit 1020 as shown inFIG. 24A that is removably coupled to the driver shaft 516. In thisembodiment, the adapter 1600 has an implant receiving end structure asshown in FIG. 24A and a driver shaft coupling end 1662 d that isconfigured with the C-clip structure 3550 as shown in FIGS. 29A-29E forcoupling to the adapter-engaging end 3517 of the driver shaft 516.

FIG. 34 shows an embodiment where the implant kit 1010 of FIGS. 23A-23Cwhose driver shaft coupling end 662 a is configured with the pair ofopposing tabs 541, 542 as shown in FIGS. 26A-26D and theadapter-engaging end of the driver shaft 516 is configured to have thestructures of 517 a or 517 b as shown in FIGS. 26A-26D.

According to another embodiment, FIGS. 35A and 35B show the implant kit1010 (shown in FIG. 23A) whose driver shaft coupling end 662 b isconfigured to couple to the driver shaft 516 by an O-ring similar to thestructure shown in connection with the implant kit 1040 (shown in FIG.27A). In this embodiment, however, the structures of theadapter-engaging end 1517 a of the driver shaft 516 and the driver shaftcoupling end 662 b of the adapter 600 are switched compared to thestructures shown in FIG. 27A. Here, the driver shaft coupling end 662 bis configured for coupling to the driver shaft 516 by an O-ring 546 athat is provided on the driver shaft rather than the driver shaftcoupling end 662 b of the adapter's stem portion 662. Theadapter-engaging end 1517 a of the driver shaft 516 is cylindrical andis provided with a bore 1514 a for receiving the driver shaft couplingend 662 b. The adapter-engaging end 1517 a is provided with acircumferential groove 1519 for accommodating the O-ring 546 a. Thedriver shaft coupling end 662 b is configured to be a prism-likestructure having a square cross-section or some other polygoncross-section and the bore 1514 a has a corresponding shape forreceiving the polygon shape. This configuration allows torsional forcefrom the driver shaft 516 to be transferred to the driver shaft couplingend 662 b.

Because the adapter-engaging end 1517 a is a cylinder, the corners ofthe polygon shaped driver shaft coupling end 662 b are closer to theouter surface of the adapter-engaging end 1517 a and the corners of thepolygon shaped driver shaft coupling end 662 b intersect the bottom ofthe circumferential groove 1519. This creates openings at the bottom ofthe groove 1519 that expose the driver shaft coupling end 662 b when thedriver shaft coupling end 662 b is inserted into the bore 1514 a. Thedriver shaft coupling end 662 b is provided with a groove 668 thataligns with the circumferential groove 1519 so that the groove 668 isexposed through the openings at the bottom of the groove 1519 and theO-ring 546 a provided in the circumferential groove 1519 of theadapter-engaging end 1517 a of the driver shaft retains the driver shaftcoupling end 662 b in place.

FIG. 36 shows another embodiment of the implant kit 1010 as shown inFIG. 23A that is removably coupled to the driver shaft 516. In thisembodiment, the adapter 600 has an implant receiving end structure asshown in FIG. 23A and a driver shaft coupling end 662 c that isconfigured with the off-set clip structure 2515 for coupling to theadapter-engaging end 2517 of the driver shaft 516. The off-set clipstructure 2515 is as used in the implant kit 1050 as shown in FIGS.28A-28C.

FIG. 37 shows another embodiment of the implant kit 1010 as shown inFIG. 23A that is removably coupled to the driver shaft 516. In thisembodiment, the adapter 600 has an implant receiving end structure asshown in FIG. 23A and a driver shaft coupling end 662 d that isconfigured with the C-clip structure 3550 as shown in FIGS. 29A-29E forcoupling to the adapter-engaging end 3517 of the driver shaft 516.

FIG. 38 shows an embodiment where the implant kit 1030 of FIGS. 25A-25Dwhose driver shaft coupling end 2663 a is configured with the pair ofopposing tabs 541, 542 as shown in FIGS. 26A-26D and theadapter-engaging end of the driver shaft 516 is configured to have thestructures of 517 a or 517 b as shown in FIGS. 26A-26D.

FIGS. 39A-39B show the implant kit 1030 (shown in FIGS. 25A-25D) whosedriver shaft coupling end 2663 b is configured to couple to the drivershaft 516 by an O-ring similar to the structure shown in connection withthe implant kit 1040 (shown in FIG. 27A). In this embodiment, however,the structures of the adapter-engaging end 1517 a of the driver shaft516 and the driver shaft coupling end 2663 b of the adapter 2600 areswitched compared to the structures shown in FIG. 27A. Here, the drivershaft coupling end 2663 b is configured for coupling to the driver shaft516 by an O-ring 546 a that is provided on the driver shaft rather thanthe driver shaft coupling end 2663 b of the adapter's stem portion 2663.The adapter-engaging end 1517 a of the driver shaft 516 is cylindricaland is provided with a bore 1514 a for receiving the driver shaftcoupling end 2663 b. The adapter-engaging end 1517 a is provided with acircumferential groove 1519 for accommodating the O-ring 546 a. Thedriver shaft coupling end 2663 b is configured to be a prism-likestructure having a square cross-section or some other polygoncross-section and the bore 1514 a has a corresponding shape forreceiving the polygon shape. This configuration allows torsional forcefrom the driver shaft 516 to be transferred to the driver shaft couplingend 2663 b.

Because the adapter-engaging end 1517 a is a cylinder, the corners ofthe polygon shaped driver shaft coupling end 2663 b are closer to theouter surface of the adapter-engaging end 1517 a and the corners of thepolygon shaped driver shaft coupling end 2663 b intersect the bottom ofthe circumferential groove 1519. This creates openings at the bottom ofthe groove 1519 that expose the driver shaft coupling end 2663 b whenthe driver shaft coupling end 2663 b is inserted into the bore 1514 a.The driver shaft coupling end 2663 b is provided with a groove 2668 thataligns with the circumferential groove 1519 so that the groove 2668 isexposed through the openings at the bottom of the groove 1519 and theO-ring 546 a provided in the circumferential groove 1519 of theadapter-engaging end 1517 a of the driver shaft retains the driver shaftcoupling end 2663 b in place.

FIG. 40 shows another embodiment of the implant kit 1030 as shown inFIGS. 25A-25D that is removably coupled to the driver shaft 516. In thisembodiment, the adapter 2600 has an implant receiving end structure asshown in FIG. 23A and a driver shaft coupling end 2663 c that isconfigured with the off-set clip structure 2515 for coupling to theadapter-engaging end 2517 of the driver shaft 516. The off-set clipstructure 2515 is as used in the implant kit 1050 as shown in FIGS.28A-28C.

FIG. 41 shows another embodiment of the implant kit 1030 as shown inFIGS. 25A-25D that is removably coupled to the driver shaft 516. In thisembodiment, the adapter 2600 has an implant receiving end structure asshown in FIG. 23A and a driver shaft coupling end 2663 d that isconfigured with the C-clip structure 3550 as shown in FIGS. 29A-29E forcoupling to the adapter-engaging end 3517 of the driver shaft 516.

Although the invention has been described in terms of exemplaryembodiments, it is not limited thereto. Rather, the appended claimsshould be construed broadly, to include other variants and embodimentsof the invention, which may be made by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the scope and range of equivalents of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An implant kit comprising: an adapter having afirst end, a second end, and a longitudinal axis extending from thefirst and to the second end, wherein the first end is configured forremovably receiving and engaging an implant and the second end isconfigured for removably coupling to a driver shaft of an implantdriving tool wherein a slot is provided on the first end in which theblade portion of the implant is received; and an implant preloaded intothe first end of the adapter, said implant comprising: an elongatedthreaded portion; a blade portion extending from the elongated threadedportion, and having two serrated edges, wherein the blade portionincludes a plurality of teeth along its serrated edges defining valleyportions between the plurality of teeth, wherein the blade portion isreceived in the first end of the adapter and the elongated threadedportion of the implant is coaxially aligned with the longitudinal axisof the adapter; wherein a groove is provided on the outer surface of theadapter in proximity to the first end and extending circumferentiallyaround the adapter, wherein the groove is located at a distance from thefirst end and in alignment with one of the valley portions on the blade,and wherein an elastic O-ring is disposed in the groove and directlyengaging the teeth by being positioned within the one of the valleyportions and retaining the implant within the slot of the adapter; andwherein the first end of the adapter comprises a sleeve having a firstopen end and a second open end with a bore longitudinally extendingthrough the sleeve between the two open ends, and a collet received inthe bore, the collet including an implant receiving portion and athreaded portion, the implant receiving portion having animplant-receiving opening, the implant-receiving opening defined by aplurality of collet segments which is defined by slots extending fromthe implant-receiving end towards the threaded portion.
 2. The implantkit of claim 1, wherein the blade portion of the implant extends fromthe elongated threaded portion at an angle with respect to thelongitudinal axis of the adapter and the slot extends into the adapterat said angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the adapter. 3.The implant kit of claim 2, wherein the angle is between zero and 45degrees.
 4. The implant kit of claim 1, wherein the first end of theadapter comprising: an adapter body having a first end and a second end;a slot provided within the adapter body, extending longitudinallytherein and open at the first end of the adapter body; and a bifurcatedclip having a stem portion and a pair of bifurcated arms received withinthe slot wherein the stem portion extends through the second end of theadapter body and the bifurcated clip is slidable within the slot betweenan extended position and a retracted position, wherein the bifurcatedclip is in the retracted position in which the bifurcated arms are in aclosed position with the blade portion of the implant received throughthe slot and being held between the pair of bifurcated arms.
 5. Theimplant kit of claim 4, wherein the bifurcated clip is spring-biased forkeeping the bifurcated clip in the retracted position.
 6. The implantkit of claim 5, wherein the implant can be released by sliding thebifurcated clip to its extended position.
 7. The implant kit of claim 4,wherein the bifurcated clip is thread-biased for keeping the bifurcatedclip in the retracted position.
 8. The implant kit of claim 7, whereinthe second end of the adapter body comprises a retaining nut that isrotatable about the longitudinal axis, the retaining nut having athreaded bore extending along the longitudinal axis, wherein the stemportion of the bifurcated clip has a screw threaded portion that extendsthrough the threaded bore of the retaining nut, whereby the bifurcatedclip is moved between the extended position and the retracted positionby rotating the retaining nut.
 9. The implant kit of claim 1, whereinthe second end of the adapter is provided with a longitudinallyextending bore for receiving the driver shaft; a groove provided in theouter surface of the adapter in proximity to the second end andextending circumferentially around the adapter; and an elastic O-ringdisposed in the groove for coupling the implant kit to the driver shaftwhen the driver shaft is received in the bore.
 10. The implant kit ofclaim 3, wherein the driver shaft has an adapter-engaging end and thesecond end of the adapter comprises: a longitudinally extending bore forreceiving the adapter-engaging end of the driver shaft; and a pair ofopposing tabs for removably coupling the driver shaft to the adapter,the opposing tabs longitudinally extending away from the first end ofthe adapter.
 11. The implant kit of claim 1, wherein theadapter-engaging end is provided with screw threads and thelongitudinally extending bore is tapped with corresponding screw threadswhereby the adapter-engaging end and the longitudinally extending borecan be threadably coupled.
 12. The implant kit of claim 1, wherein theadapter-engaging end is magnetized and a magnet is provided within thelongitudinally extending bore, whereby the adapter-engaging end and thelongitudinally extending bore can be magnetically coupled.
 13. Theimplant kit of claim 1, wherein the driver shaft has an adapter-engagingend and the second end of the adapter comprises: a longitudinallyextending bore for receiving the adapter-engaging end of the drivershaft; and an off-set clip cantilevered to the adapter for removablycoupling the driver shaft to the adapter, wherein the off-set clip has adeflectable cantilever portion.
 14. The implant kit of claim 13, whereinthe off-set clip has a through hole that is in an off-set alignment withthe longitudinally extending bore, whereby by deflecting the cantileverportion, the through hole can be brought in linear alignment with thelongitudinally extending bore and allow the adapter-engaging end of thedriver shaft to be inserted through the through hole and into thelongitudinally extending bore.
 15. The implant kit of claim 1, whereinthe driver shaft has an adapter-engaging end and the second end of theadapter is configured to removably couple to the adapter-engaging end ofthe driver shaft by a C-clip.
 16. The implant kit of claim 15, whereinthe adapter comprises: a longitudinally extending bore for receiving theadapter-engaging end of the driver shaft; a pair of grooves forreceiving the C-clip, where one groove is provided on each opposing sideof the second end; and a C-clip for clipping on to the adapter byslidingly engaging the pair of grooves, whereby when theadapter-engaging end of a driver shaft is inserted into thelongitudinally extending bore, sliding the C-clip onto the pair ofgrooves couples the driver shaft to the adapter.